Police Briefs

While Moises Ruiz Maestro enjoyed a long visit with the animals inside Gladys Porter Zoo Sunday, his own pet spent hours in the parking lot, locked inside the family van as the heat rose outside.

A passerby alerted zoo officials to the unattended terrier mix that appeared to have no food or water inside the vehicle, police reported.

Maestro was arrested on one count of animal cruelty, a Class C misdemeanor with a maximum fine of $225.

He’s accused of leaving the dog inside his Chevrolet Astro Van while he and his family spent the afternoon at the zoo.

It’s believed the dog was in the van for at least two hours. The reported heat index at the time was 93 degrees, according to police. No food or water for the dog was found in the van.

A zoo patron reported seeing the dog inside the van at 3 p.m., upon entering the zoo and again at 5 p.m., when leaving.

Zoo officials called for the van owner to report to the office, but he never showed up. Animal Control officers were notified and confiscated the dog. When Maestro arrived at his van, he was questioned and placed under arrest.

False report leads to charges against fibbing driver

A Brownsville man accused of making a false theft report to police found himself facing additional charges after police linked him to a hit-and-run accident that left one person injured, police reported.

Oscar Renee Ayala, 37, reportedly told police his 1985 Chevrolet Corvette had been stolen from the parking lot at Sunrise Mall on Sunday afternoon.

While investigating the theft, police learned that Ayala had been in an accident about 30 minutes earlier, near the mall and left the area on foot.

Ayala’s Corvette reportedly struck a 2005 Ford F-150 pickup from behind on U.S. Expressway 77/83, near the mall. The collision caused the truck to crash into the concrete barrier.

Ayala then made his way to Sunrise Mall where he told police his car had been stolen from the parking lot. Security personnel reviewed the parking lot surveillance tape, but were unable to locate Ayala’s car on the tape in the area he claimed it was parked.

He was charged with filing a false police report and failure to stop and render aid. His bonds totaled $12,500.

Stranger attacks woman, asks about being ‘friends’

A 21-year-old Brownsville man has been arrested on charges of punching a woman in the face and then threatening her with a “gadget knife.”

Norman Dustin Reedy is charged with one count of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a count of burglary of habitation, a count of evading arrest and detention, two counts of violating a protective order and one count of interfering with a 911 call. His bonds totaled $44,500.

The incident occurred at 10:43 p.m. on Sunday at the 100 block of Hacienda.

The woman and another female were walking to a friend’s house, when Reedy approached her and asked why she “didn’t want to be his friend,” the report shows. The woman does not know Reedy.

When she tried to call police, Reedy allegedly pulled it away from her and punched her. He pulled out a “gadget knife” and pointed it at her, then kicked her in the left ankle, police reported.

The woman said Reedy “freaked out” when he saw her bleeding from the head and left the area by bicycle.

He was tracked down at the Red Roof Inn on Old Highway 77, where he was later arrested.

Police briefs compiled by Brownsville Herald reporter Laura B. Martinez